Month: July 2009

Hopefully this will sound like common sense to most of you but for all of you lower level assistants- listen up!

It is super important to always remain professional when you are at work, no matter how casual the environment may be. Many jobs in the entertainment industry are either based out of a home or out of a really laid back office. It is common that the boss/friend line gets blurred. Beware! We have seen many situations where the assistant starts to get a little too comfortable at work and starts treating their boss more like a friend than an employer who signs their checks.

Over the years, clients have told us stories about how their assistants get too comfortable and it never ends well.

Here are some tips to insure your professional relationship does not cross the line into Friendshipville/ Pink Slipville:

1) Never bring your own personal drama or baggage to work! Your boss is not your therapist. The last thing you should be thinking about when you are “on the clock” is your personal life….and trust me, the last thing your boss wants to hear is how your date stood you up last night! Save that story for your friends after work.

2) Always treat your boss with a level of respect/ professionalism, no matter how friendly they may act with you. I have seen many clients in the past get really buddy buddy with their assistant only to wake up one day and realize that they do not need anymore friends. In most cases the assistant gets fired. If your boss is trying to be your best friend it’s OK to be the one to draw the line and focus on your job.

3) Never take personal calls at work. No matter how close you think you are to your boss or how often they are talking to their friends, it is not your place to sit and gab away with friends while you are getting paid. This will piss your boss off and make you appear to be less focused on your job.

4) Don’t gossip with your boss about their friends or co-workers. You may think it’s fun or that you are “in” with your boss but it will only make you look bad and untrustworthy.

Seeking a dedicated and highly motivated Development Director. The ideal candidate has extensive experience and a proven record of success in either political or non- profit fundraising, and thrives in a fast-paced environment.

This person will play a critical role in organization’s success, and will work closely with the Executive Director and other departments to set and meet all fundraising goals.

Responsibilities:

Continue to build network of major donors

Oversee donor management

Seek new and creative sources of revenue

Write and manage fundraising plans

Coordinate direct mail and email campaigns

Organize fundraising events throughout the year

Produce annual report

Oversee the research, writing and reporting of grant proposals

Work with Board members who have pledged to write checks or raise money

Stay knowledgeable on best practices in fundraising, both offline and online

Manage at least one Development Associate; possibility for department growth

Qualifications:

Experience in all levels of individual donor fundraising, including direct mail, online, grassroots fundraising techniques, and special events

Proven track record soliciting major gifts

Working knowledge of grant process, including research tools

Proven track record of soliciting foundation grants

Experience in developing and managing fundraising plans

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Highly organized with an attention to detail

Commitment to supporting the nation’s newest generation clean master of troops and veterans

If interested and qualified, please email Lori@thegrapevinela.com with your resume!

Extremely busy manager/ TV and Film Producer etc. in entertainment seeks an extremely organized, pro-active, hard working and up for the challenge assistant. The demands and expectations of this office are high, it is a busy job and can be on call 24/7. MUST have experience as a first assistant. AGENCY EXPERIENCE IS PREFERRED. MUST also have thick skin and be able to multi-task and delegate when necessary.

This position offers the right candidate the opportunity to work with and learn from all departments within the agency including Celebrity Endorsements, Lifestyle Branding, Television and Fashion Photography. Smaller agency environment will allow a close working relationship with company executives and excellent opportunities for growth for motivated, self-starting individuals that can think three steps ahead. Ideal candidates will have at least 1-2 years of industry experience, preferably in an agency or management environment though not necessarily required. Duties include rolling calls, scheduling, research, providing general support to the office and helping ensure a smooth and efficient environment for all. We are looking for a detail-oriented true team player who is flexible and will go with the flow of a very busy agency. Not a typical suit and tie agency so candidates that prefer a less ‘corporate’ feel mixed with a highly professional environment would excel. Must be excellent on a PC and comfortable with Microsoft Office – Outlook, Excel and Power Point. M-F 8:30-6:30. Hollywood Hills 30K-35K + health insurance after 3 months. BlackBerry device and service provided.

As we all know, times are tough out there right now. You have spent many years working hard to get where you are, so what is your best next move? Do you hold out for your dream job at a high salary and risk being unemployed for another 6 moths? Do you settle for just anything so you can get back to work and start getting an income again? This is the big debate going through many of our candidates minds right now. Trust me, you are not alone. We hear this every day and wish we had the answer.

The unfortunate truth is that most jobs have come down in salary. The reason for this is that many companies have had budget cuts, hiring freezes and lay offs. Even the companies that are sustaining are still trying to cut costs and save money in case things continue like this for a while. Hiring budgets are one of the first things to go when trying to save a company money.

Employers know that there is so much competition out there right now amongst job seekers and so few jobs. The employers have the upper hand and they know it. Jobs that were going for 100K last year are down to about 65K-75K. Many mid-level assistant jobs that used to pay 50K are hiring entry-levels in hopes to be able to mold that employee into exactly what they want. Needless to say, this is definitely an employers market.

We are hopeful that salaries will raise again in the near future and companies will start hiring again. It’s hard to say when. We believe that security is extremely important right now. We all need to make adjustments in our lives so that we can take jobs, even if they are a bit lower in pay, so that we have incomes coming in.

The Grapevine implores people to make good choices right now. We don’t want you to be taken advantage of but at the same time, we do want to manage your expectations. gemmy blown inflatable Do know that the salary scale has changed for now and you must try to adapt with it. Let’s all try to ride out this wave together and hope for the best.

The Grapevine wishes you all a happy and safe 4th of July weekend. While it’s important to work hard, it’s also just as important to take time out for yourself to spend with family and friends. Sometimes a little R & R is just what you need to replensh and be able to focus at work!

These days with so many communication portals, it’s hard to know whether to write a thank you via email or what we now refer to as “snail mail”. What’s even more alarming is the fact that close to 85% of the folks that we meet rarely think to write thank you notes at all… to us or the client! That is a HUGE no-no.

Call us old school but it is still SO important to write a thank you note after each and every meeting you have. It allows the employer/interviewer to see how amazing your follow through is and proves that you truly care about the opportunity. Your thank you note doesn’t necessarily have to be anything long winded, however it should include a kernel of the conversation that took place in your meeting and most importantly should be sincere. Show enthusiasm and dazzle them with your excellent writing ability! We challenge you NOT to start with the way overly used “thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me….”

We all know that in this day and age handwritten notes seems to be starting to go by the way side however we still feel that it’s the best form for writing a thank you. If you fear that you may look tardy, there are 2 things that we suggest:

1. Always bring a pre-stamped thank you card in your car so you can write the letter directly after the meeting and pop it in a nearby mailbox. Not only does this allow you to get it in the mail right away but your interview conversation is still fresh in your mind. *Remember if you have met more than one person, write each interviewer their own card.

2. If the interviewer hands you their business car, you may write a simple note via email thanking them for their time.

To write a thank you note is still very much appreciated and sometimes even expected. So pick up a pen and get scribbling.

Many of you ask what is appropriate to wear on an interview? We always tell our candidates to Dress to Impress! This is your one and only chance to make a good impression so make sure you look the part!

Here are some little tips of advice on what to wear and what NOT to wear!

No No’s: sneakers, t-shirts, jeans, flip-flops, opened toe shoes (nobody wants to see your feet), strong perfume, too much make up!!, too much tanning cream, chipped nails, way too many accessories or any type of hat.

Always: Dress professionally. When in doubt dress up and if you are the only one, when you get the job you can bring out the more casual clothes. No need for a full on suit unless you are heading to CAA or a very corporate company. You can’t go wrong with nice IRONED pants with a button down or dress/skirt for the ladies and un scuffed closed toe shoes. Please do not fold up your resume into origami. You should carry a clean copy of your resume and reference list in a nice folder or computer bag. Make sure you don’t look like you are dragging your luggage to the interview. Don’t forget your smile. Think clean, crisp and polished. Now go make some eye contact and give that firm handshake!